Rigatoni with Ricotta (Modified)

For this week's Crock-Pot Thursday, we added a "twist" to a Rachael Ray recipie for vegetarian rigatoni with ricotta by including sausage. Along with this dish, we had a tossed salad and Texas toast.

Rigatoni with Ricotta (Modified)

INGREDIENTS

• 2 tablespoons EVOO Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
• 1 28- to 32-ounce can San Marzano tomatoes
• 1 small onion, peeled and halved
• A few leaves of basil, torn
• 1 fresh bay leaf
• Salt and pepper
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 1/2 cups fresh sheep or cows milk ricotta cheese
• 3 tablespoons fresh thyme, finely chopped
• 1/4 cup flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped
• 1/4 cup mint, finely chopped
• 2 teaspoons lemon zest
• 1 ball fresh mozzarella cheese, shredded or cut into fine dice, divided
• 1 1/2 cups freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, divided
• 1/2 cup shelled spring peas, par-boiled 3-4 minutes, optional
• 1 pound box rigatoni

PREPERATION

1. Preheat oven to 425°F.
2. In a small saucepot, heat EVOO over medium to medium-high heat. Add butter and melt. When it starts to foam, add garlic, stir a minute and add tomatoes, mashing them up. Add onion, basil and bay. Season with salt and pepper; simmer 30 minutes over low heat. Remove onion. Add butter to sauce to finish.
3. Bring a pot of water to a boil for the pasta.
4. Combine ricotta with salt, pepper, thyme, parsley, mint, lemon zest, half the mozzarella and half of the Parm.
5. Salt pasta water. Boil rigatoni about 7-8 minutes, under-cooking it a minute or so from al dente. Reserve about 1 cup of starchy cooking liquid. Drain pasta and return to hot pot, stir in ricotta mixture, peas and adding starchy cooking water to combine as needed. Transfer to a baking dish.
6. Pour red sauce evenly over top of pasta in baking dish, top with remaining mozzarella and Parm cheese. Bake until bubbly and the cheese is browned, 15-18 minutes--be careful not to dry the pasta out.

Recipe Courtesy of Rachael Ray.